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Red dry
Yjar Rioja 2021 is a very high-class Rioja wine from the Remelluri estate in Labastida, at the foot of the Sierra de Toloño, Rioja Alavesa, that is uniquely reflective of the place. It comes from a small, single vineyard plot of approximately 3.8 hectares, whose history is associated with the very old winemaking tradition of this place.
In aroma, this wine reveals itself through a very precise, refined expression: you can expect red currants, cranberries, cherries, wild herbs, lavender, rose petals, violets and subtle nuances of spices.
The wine is concentrated, but very precise and restrained, the acidity provides verticality, the tannins are fine, polished and extremely well integrated. This is not a massive, but an elegant, layered Rioja, whose strength is harmony, depth and a long, mineral, subtly balsamic aftertaste.
The character of the wine is shaped by the calcareous slopes and higher terrain of Rioja Alavesa, and the 2021 vintage itself is considered a year of exceptional quality in the Rioja region. As a result, this wine combines maturity and energy: it has power, but maintains a very clear line and a fresh structure.
The winemaking also emphasizes style over effect: fermentation takes place with indigenous yeasts in wooden open containers, and the wine is aged for around 30 months in foudres and barrels of various sizes.
Serve at 16 - 18 °C. Goes well with red meat, mature cheese, mushroom dishes or even delicate stews.
Crushed dark berries are complemented by violets and underbrush with a gentle touch of tobacco. The sophisticated palate shows exceptional definition and polished tannins that are seamlessly integrated into a core of vibrant, restrained fruit. It’s all held together by a linear freshness characteristic of the vintage. This wine has depth, persistence and an incredibly stylish profile. Firm yet with an underlying tenderness. Beautiful now but will continue to evolve. Drink or hold.
Telmo Rodríguez, alongside his long-standing partner Pablo Eguzkiza, are more than just winemakers; they are the restorers of Spain’s oenological heritage. Since the project’s inception in 1994 with a single plot in Navarra, their Compañía de Vinos has evolved into a fundamental movement dedicated to rehabilitating abandoned, historic vineyards. In contrast to the proponents of industrial viticulture, Telmo focuses on autochthonous grape varieties and their primal expression, today managing over 80 hectares divided into 355 small plots across the country—from Málaga to Valdeorras.
The axis of Telmo Rodríguez’s philosophy is terroir hunting. Rather than creating a standardized "house style," he allows the local geology and microclimate to speak. His work with old bush vines (vignoble en gobelet) across various appellations reveals a dramatic mosaic of soils: from the granite outcrops of Galicia to the limestone plateaus of the Rioja region. Each wine serves as a portrait of a specific village or valley, where biodiversity within the vineyard is regarded as an essential condition for quality.
The production process maintains a strict distance from modern technological solutions. Only indigenous yeasts are used, and the aging strategy is selected individually to emphasize the purity of the grape rather than the influence of the oak itself. Often, large-capacity neutral oak casks or concrete vats are employed to preserve the desired structure and mineral character of the wine. This is an intellectual approach to winemaking, where technique serves as a tool to highlight the 43 different varieties that Telmo and Pablo have returned to the Spanish wine map.
